A Celebration of Animals A service of thanksgiving and blessing for pets and working animals. Sunday 30 September 2018 2pm This service is in aid of Wood Green Animal Shelter, The Donkey Sanctuary, The K9 Project and Guide Dogs for the Blind
WELCOME HYMN Who put the colours in the rainbow? Who put the salt into the sea? Who put the cold in the snowflake? Who made you and me? Who put the hump upon the camel? Who put the neck on the giraffe? Who put the tail upon the donkey? Who made hyenas laugh? Who made whales and snails and quails? Who made hogs and dogs and frogs? Who made bats and rats and cats? Who made everything? Who put the gold into the sunshine? Who put the sparkle in the stars? Who put the silver in the moonlight? Who made Earth and Mars? Who put the scent into the roses? Who taught the honey bee to dance? Who put the tree inside the acorn? It surely can t be chance! Who made seas and leaves and trees? Who made snow and winds that blow? Who made streams and rivers flow? God made all of these! 2
PRAYER Look upon the animals, O God, which share our homes and our lives, and which inspire us with their love and loyalty. Bless them for the pleasure and companionship they give us and for the work they do to help humankind. Protect all those who suffer neglect and cruelty, we pray And bring them the help they need. Through Christ our Lord, Amen. SAYING SORRY Response Heavenly Father, Forgive us and help us For the times we have neglected or forgotten to look after animals that depend on us Heavenly Father, Forgive us and help us For the times we have seen animals in distress and done nothing to help Heavenly Father, Forgive us and help us For the times when we have failed to protect the environment in which animals live, here and across the world Heavenly Father, Forgive us and help us WORDS OF FORGIVENESS Hear again the words of Jesus: Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more. We thank you, Lord God, for your full and free forgiveness. Thank you that you give us the chance to start again with a clean slate. Help us to be loving, reliable and attentive with the animals in our care, as well as responsible and courageous when we see animals in distress. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen. 3
We are delighted to welcome our special guest Phil the Vet. A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A VET BIBLE READING Matthew 6:28 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? For the Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God SONGS BY THE ELY IMPS Then Japhet, Shem and Ham from Captain Noah - Joseph Horovitz All Things Bright and Beautiful TALK Canon Victoria Johnson and Percy 4
HYMN Morning has broken Like the first morning, Blackbird has spoken Like the first bird Praise for the singing, Praise for the morning, Praise for them springing Fresh from the Word. Sweet the rain s new fall Sunlit from heaven, Like the first dewfall On the first grass. Praise for the sweetness Of the wet garden Sprung in completeness Where his feet pass. Mine is the sunlight, Mine is the morning Born of the one light Eden saw play. Praise with elation, Praise every morning, God s re-creation Of the new day. 5
THE PRAYERS God said Let the waters bring forth living creatures, And let birds fly across the sky. We thank you for the teaming life of the seas, And the flight of the birds. Help us to protect the environment So that all life may flourish. God of life: Hear our prayer God said, let the earth bring forth living creatures of every kind. We rejoice in the variety of animal life. Grant us grace to treat all animals with respect and care; To protect endangered species, To preservice the variety of habitats, And to honour the delicate balance of nature. God of life: Hear our prayer Heavenly Father, you have filled the world with beauty: Open our eyes to behold your gracious hand in all your works; That, rejoicing in your whole creation we may learn to serve you with gladness, for the sake of him through whom all things were made, Jesus Christ our Lord, God of life: Hear our prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. 6
ACT OF COMMITMENT We commit ourselves to care for the world God has given us; to care for all creatures; to cherish and provide for the pets and animals in our care; to protect any animal we find in distress. Heavenly Father giver of all life, Fill our hearts with generosity and love That we may fulfil what we have promised; Bless, O Lord, these creatures, and all who are involved in their care and protection. May our awareness of their needs make us sensitive to the needs of every creature, for we ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Please stand 7
1 All creatures of our God and King, Lift up your voice and with us sing! O praise him, Alleluia! Thou burning Sun with golden beam, Thou silver moon with softer gleam, O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! HYMN 2 Dear mother earth, who day by day Unfoldest blessings on our way, O praise him, Alleluia. The flowers and fruits that in thee grow. Let them his glory also show: O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! 3 Let all things their Creator bless, And worship him in humbleness, O praise him, Alleluia! Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, And praise the Spirit, three in One. O praise him, O praise him, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! BLESSING May God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the source of all goodness and growth, pour his blessing upon all things created, and upon you his children, that you may use his gifts to his glory and the welfare of all peoples; and the blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be with you, and all who you love, today and always. Amen. A retiring collection will be received in aid of Wood Green Animal Shelters, the K9 Project, Guide Dogs for the Blind and the Donkey Sanctuary. Please give generously. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to this service, and made it possible. To Rebecca Duckworth, Director of The Ely Imps, Edmund Aldhouse, Assistant Organist, and The Ely Imps. All those from local animal charities, pet lovers from near and far, and of course, all of God s creatures who have come to worship with us today.